Vallejo Divorce Records
Vallejo residents who want to find divorce records must go through Solano County Superior Court. The city does not keep these records. All divorce cases filed in Vallejo get processed at the county courthouse in Fairfield. The court clerk maintains the case files and issues certified copies of divorce decrees. You can search for cases online through the county portal or visit the courthouse in person. Solano County has family law records dating back many years, though older files may be stored off-site. If you know the case number or both party names, the search goes faster. The court charges $15 for a certified divorce decree plus $0.50 per page for copies.
Solano County Superior Court
Vallejo divorce cases are filed with Solano County Superior Court. The main courthouse is at 600 Union Ave, Fairfield, CA 94533. The Family Division handles all dissolution matters. You can reach them at (707) 207-7340 or by email at familydivision@solano.courts.ca.gov. The courthouse is open from 8am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm on weekdays. They close for lunch each day.
To get a copy of a divorce decree, you need to send a written request. Include the case number if you have it. If not, provide both party names and the year the divorce was filed. Mail your request with a check for $15 made payable to Solano Superior Court. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope so they can mail the documents back to you. The court does not accept cash payments by mail.
Solano County uses an online case portal at portal.solano.courts.ca.gov. You can search for cases by name or case number. The portal shows basic case info like filing dates and case type. Some documents may be viewable online, but many family law records require an in-person visit or mail request due to privacy rules. The online search is free to use.
How to Search for Vallejo Divorce Cases
Start with the Solano County online portal. Enter one party name in the search box. The system will return all matching cases. You can narrow results by selecting family law or dissolution as the case type. If you get too many results, try adding a middle initial or the approximate year. Most people can find their case in a few minutes.
The portal displays a case summary with the filing date, case number, and parties. Click on the case number to see more details. You will see a list of documents filed in the case. This list is called the register of actions. It shows every paper filed from the petition to the final judgment. Some counties let you view scanned copies of documents online, but Solano County may require you to request copies through the clerk.
If the online portal does not have what you need, call the Family Division at (707) 207-7340. The staff can check whether a case exists and tell you how to get copies. They can also explain any privacy restrictions that might apply. Sealed cases or cases involving minors may have limited public access.
Costs and Wait Times
A certified divorce decree costs $15 in Solano County. This fee covers the certification but not the copy charges. Copies are $0.50 per page. A typical divorce decree runs two to five pages, so your total cost is usually $16 to $17.50. If you need other documents from the file like the petition or settlement agreement, those also cost $0.50 per page.
Processing times depend on how you submit your request. In-person requests at the courthouse can be filled the same day if the file is on-site. Mail requests take longer. Most mail orders are completed within two to three weeks. If the file is in off-site storage, it can take up to four weeks. The court will contact you if there are delays or if they cannot locate the case.
You can pay by check, money order, cash, or card if you visit in person. Mail requests require a check or money order. Make checks payable to Solano Superior Court. Do not send cash through the mail. If the court cannot find a case matching your request, they will return your payment or apply it as a search fee depending on how much work was involved.
Local Resources in Vallejo
Several legal aid organizations serve Vallejo residents. Legal Services of Northern California offers free help to low-income individuals. They can assist with family law matters including divorce. Their Solano County office provides advice and representation for those who qualify. You can reach them at (707) 557-6560 or visit their website at lsnc.net.
The Solano County Law Library is another resource. It has books, forms, and computers for legal research. The library staff cannot give legal advice but can help you find forms and instructions. The law library is located at 580 Texas Street in Fairfield. Call (707) 421-7666 for hours and access info.
Vallejo residents can also use the court self-help center. The center has staff who explain court procedures and help with forms. They can answer questions about filing for divorce, responding to a petition, or modifying a judgment. The self-help center does not provide legal representation but can guide you through the process. Contact the Solano County Superior Court for self-help services.
Information Required for Searches
To search for a divorce case, you need at least one party name. The more details you provide, the better your results. Here is what helps:
- Full name of the petitioner or respondent
- Approximate year the case was filed
- Case number if available
- County where the divorce was filed
Common names like Smith or Garcia can return dozens of results. Adding a middle name or initial narrows the search. If you remember the year or even the decade, use that as a filter. The case number is the best search tool if you have it. Every divorce case gets a unique number when filed.
If you are looking for your own divorce decree and do not remember the case number, check old tax returns or legal papers. The case number may be on correspondence from your lawyer or the court. Bank records from around the time of the divorce may also have the case number on checks paid to the court.
Access and Privacy Rules
Most divorce records are public. Anyone can request copies from the court. California law allows public access to court files unless the judge seals the case. Sealed cases are rare and usually involve special circumstances like domestic violence or child safety concerns.
Financial documents filed in divorce cases are public too. This includes income and expense declarations, property lists, and tax returns submitted as evidence. If you want to keep these documents private, you must ask the judge to seal them. The court will only grant sealing orders if there is a strong legal reason.
Some information is automatically protected. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and the addresses of minor children are redacted from public view. California court rules require parties to file a confidential information form that keeps these details out of the public record. However, the rest of the case file remains open to anyone who asks.
Older Vallejo Divorce Records
Divorce cases from the 1960s through 1984 may also be listed with the California Department of Public Health. CDPH has a Certificate of Record for dissolutions finalized between 1962 and June 1984. This certificate shows the names of both parties, the date the divorce was finalized, the county, and the case number. It does not include the actual decree or any details about the settlement.
To get a Certificate of Record from CDPH, you mail a request to P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410. The fee is $18 per copy as of 2026. Processing can take several months, so plan ahead if you need this document. CDPH warns that divorce record requests often exceed six months due to the way these old records are stored.
For the actual divorce decree from cases before 1985, you still need to contact Solano County Superior Court. The court keeps divorce judgments permanently. Even very old cases should be in the archives. The court may charge an extra retrieval fee if the file is stored off-site. Call ahead to ask about availability and fees for historical records.
Nearby Cities
Other large cities in Solano County include Fairfield, which is the county seat, and Vacaville. Divorce records for residents of these cities are also handled by Solano County Superior Court in Fairfield. If you lived in any Solano County city when you filed for divorce, your case is at the same courthouse.